Spark plug



arch 30 1926.

SFARK PLUG Filed May 21 1925 V r 4=====I NVENTORs, y/1024s.

A TO EY.

Patented Mar. 30, 192 6. i a

f P umrlzo sT rssv JESSE w; BAnnE's'AND THOMAS c. REYNOLDS, oronnon'rzi, nn wfyonxi 3 SPARK PLUG.

Application filed m 21, 192 5.;jsefia1-na al-@713- T at whom may conceflw Be it known that we, Jnssn BAnnnsand THO AS C; REYNO S, citizens oflthe United State's,residing' at Oneonta," ini-the 5. county of Otsego"and State of New York,"

have invented certain new and useful Im provements in Spark Plugs, of.which the following is a: specification.

This invention relates to spark plugs and has for its object to provide,in-a manner as, hereinafter set forth, a plug of such class,having'means whereby, ser es of 1ntensified sparks arepro'duced toinsureproper ignition and explosion of the e'xplos ve mixturesupp-lied to thecombustion chamberof an internal combustion engine. I

A further object of the invention is to provide, n r a' manner ashereinafter set,

, forth, a spark plug with means to form a 2 plurality of sparkingpoints capable of producing .what may be termed a, multiplespark,-thereby insuring a more perfect explosion of the gases andincreasing the a 7 power produced as the result thereofwin the sensethat as the exploslon 1s moreperfect, less gas is consumed, and theengine" more .easily cleaned, thereby increasing its efli- -ciency. g Afurther object of the invention is to :provide, in] a manner ashereinafter set forth, a spark plug/provided with a combustion chamber,so arranged with respect *to the means for producing multiple sparkswhereby when ignition takes place the gas in the plug will-blowjpastsaid means to,j

clean. off any" accumulation of carbon f or other fouling substances,under a such conditions keeping the, said meansalways clean andovercoming fouling of thefplug. i

v Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a spark plug forthe purpose referred ,to, whichis simple in its construction and arrangement, vstrong, durable,thoroughly efficient in its use, readily assembled, and

comparatively inexpensive ,to manufacture. With the. foregoing andotherobjects in view, theJi-nvention consists of the novel construction,combination and arrangement 3 of parts, as; hereinafter morespecifically de-I scribed and-illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein is shown an ,embodi-;

ment ,of-the invention, butit is to lbe under?- 1 stood that changes,variations andimodifi-s characters denote corresponding ;pa'1:'ts ithroughout the severalviews:-, a a

I F igure 11s. a vertlcl sectional View of a spark plug, in accordancew1th'this invention'.

Figure 2 is aninner end view thereof,

Figure '3is a section on line 3-3, Figure 1. Referring to the drawingsin';.detail,"-1 denotes a metallicshell, 2 a porcelain plug body Ihaving embedded therein and tended therefrom a-central electrode 3, and

4 indicates a packing gland'for -detachably connecting the-plug bodya2to theyshell 1. Interposed between the plugbody 2 and the shell 1,intermediate the ends of said plug and shell, 1s a gasket 5,,whichseatslona shoulder 6 aIT ng d 0n ,thc'inner face of .the shell 1,andsaid gasket is engaged by the plug body 2 xvhen the latter is coupledin operatlve 'posltion within the shell lby that theinner face of theshell 1,; at the inner terminalfportion thereof is provided with"threads 7.

Threadedlyengaging witli the inner nd a of the shell 1, as well asprojecting therefrom,f1s,a carrier formed ofiinsulatiomsuch asporcelai-n and which isreferred to generouter diameter is indicated at9. and the-portion of greater outer diameter is indicated the gland 4QTheforegoing elements are of known construction itlrthe, exception sszat 10. Theforming of thebody of the of said shell.

. carrier Sof two differentfouter:diameters provides an. annularperipheral shoulder 11, which when thecarrier is mounted in position 1with respect to the inner end of the shell ,1 V abuts against the innerend edge, of the she'll. r .The periphery of the portionQof; the carrier8 is threaded for engagement 7 with the threads 7 i of the shellfl,whereby the carrier V is detachablysecured to the inner ie'nd 0f .thelatter andwhen inoperativefposition the shoulder 11 abuts against theinnerend rier, as indicated at 12, 13. The flare of the portion13 isgreater than the flare of the portion 12. Thatend of the carrier 8,arranged within the shell 1, in connection with the enlargedintermediate portion of the plug body 2, provides a combustion chamberlei and the oppositely flared opening formed by the carrier constituteswhat may be termed a passage for said chamber to permit ofthe entranceand discharge of a portion of the explosive mixture.

Embedded in the carr1er 8 s aground electrode 1.5 which extends acrossthe openin'g inthefearri'er'at the outer end thereof and which-also isexposed at the shoulder 11 so as to have electricalcontact with theinner end edge of the shell 1. The portion of the electrode 15which-extends across theopening at the outer end of the carrier 8'isindi cated at 16. Embedded in the carrier 8 and extending across theopening at the outer end of'the latter is a series of auxiliaryelectrodes 17,18, 19 and 20. The portions'of the'electrodes 17, 18, 19and20 which extend across the outer end'of the opening or, pa sageformed in; the carrierfi, are lndlcated at 21, 22,23 'and24trespectively. The electrode 21 is extended through the carrier 8 for aportion oi its length and extends" into the vides aspark' gap, theportion 2201 the electrode 18, in connection with the portion 23 of theelectrode 19 provides":u spark gap, theportion 2'3 oftheelectrode 19inconnection With the portion 2403i the electrode '20 provides a -sparkgap, and thep'ortio n '24 of the electrode 20 in connection with the'bustion chamber allows the plug to clean portion 16 of the electrode 15provides a spark gap. I

The providing of the plug with the com itself and prevents foulingof'the portions or the electrodes which extend across the 'outerend ofthe carrier 8 when each explo slon takes place. The passage to thecoinbu'stion chamber is restricted, which -increases the ability at thetime of the explosion to'clean the plug and to prevent fouling of theauxiliary electrodes. hen the explosive 'mixtuie is supplied-to theengine V "der, said reduced port1on adapted to have cylinder aportion'thereof will pass the electrodes 15,17, 18, 19 and 20 and enterthe combustion chamber lei.

' When, ignition takes place the'portion of the mixture-in thecombustion chamber willblow past the el'c'c-' rsraoeo trodes mentionedand clean of? any accumulation of carbon or other fouling substance.

by making a series of sparks,*each of which isfar more intense than theordinary single spark because of-the various spark gaps or resistancespaces which set up a resistance at the circuit and intensity theignitibility.

'By increasing the heat of thespark as well The conas the number ofsparks, the explosive mix ture. ignites quicker "and more effectivelythan in'theform of plug now in general use, and under such conditionsanenginecan be operated with a leaner'eXp-losn e mixture than that whenaplug with a single sparkis employed.

I It is thought that the many'advantages of a. spark plug, in accordancewith this in vention, be readily-,understookfl,'and althoughtl'iepreferred embodiment ofthe invention is sis-illustrated and described,yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of constructioncan be had which will fall within the scope of thein'vention as claimed)What we claim is 1. A spark plug comprising a holliwi car rier adaptedto be connected to and within and further project from the inner end ofthe shell of the plug,said carrier forming a passage itor the receptionof'the inner terminal portion of the central electrode of the plugandprovided with'a series of V opposed, spaced electrodes extendingacross the inner end of said passage, one ofsaid electrodes extendingpartly throughone side of the body of the'carrier'lengthwise thereof andprojecting'i-nto said passage, intermedi ate its ends, toa point inclose proximity the plug,' and associated therewith, and another'or'said electrodes extendingpartly through the other side of said body ofthe carrier-lengthwisethereof and having an exposed terminal for contactwith the inner end edge of the shell'oii the plug.

2, 'A sparkplug comprising a hollow carrier provided with. aperipherally threaded reduced portion forming a peripheral shoulthreadedengagement with the inner face at the inner terminal portion of theshell of the plug to secure the carrier to the'shell and to provide forthe abutting'oftheshoulder to the inner end 'o'fthe central electrode ofagainst the inner end edge of the shell, said carrier forming a passagefor the reception of the inner terminal portion of the central electrodeof the plug and'provided with a series of opposed, spaced electrodesextending transversely across the inner end of said passage, one of saidelectrodesihaving an" extension extending partly through one side of thebody of the carrier lengthwise thereof and projecting into said opening,intermedi- "ate its ends, to a point in close proximity to the inner endof the central electrode of the plug and associated therewith andanother of said electrodes of said series 113V.

ing an extension extending partly through the other side of the body ofthe carrier lengthwise thereof-and having ,an' exposed terminal at saidshoulder in-contact with the inner end edge of the shell of the plug.

3. A spark plug comprising a peripherally" shouldered hollow carrieradaptedto extend 7 into, besecured directly within and project from theinner end of the shell of the plug and further having its shoulderabutting against the inner end edge of saidshell, said carrier forming apassage into which is 7 adapted to extend the central electrode of theplug, a series of spaced opposed electrodes extending across the innerend of said passage, one of said electrodes havinga' terminal thereofexposed at said shoulder for direct contact with the inner end edge ofthe shell and another of said electrodes having a terminal portionthereof projecting through the. wall of and into said passage andassociated with the inner endof 1' the central "electrode of the plug;

4:. A'spark plug comprising a. h110w'car'-* rier adapted to be secureddirectly within 7 4o and project fromthe inner end of the shell oftheplug, saidcarrier forming a passage for the reception of the inner endterminal portion of the central electrode of the plug,

a series of opposed, spaced electrodes vextending transversely acrossthe free end of said carrier, the inner electrodes of said series havingtheir ends embedded in the; i-

free. end edge of the carriers, each outer j electrode of said .seriesp-rovidedf'with an extension, one end of -each of said outer electrodesembedded in the free endedge of said carrier, one of said extensionsextending partly through one side Of-SELld carrier and projectingthrough thewall. of and into said passage and associated with the innerend of the central electrode of the plug, the

other of said extensions extending length wise through a part of theother side of said carrier and exposed at the periphery of I

